Accomplishments

Details

Last Updated: 25 July 2016

Accomplishments:

Pusa Hydrogel for efficient water utilization: Pusa Hydrogel, a semisynthetic crosslinked hydrophilic polymer, was developed for improving in water use efficiency of agricultural and horticultural crops under limited irrigation and rainfed conditions. The salient features are :

Cellulosic (a natural polymer) backbone

Free of the toxic monomer (acrylamide)

Exhibits absorbency at high temperatures (40-500C), suitable for semi-arid and arid regions

Absorbs water a minimum of 350 times of its dry weight and gradually releases it

Neem oil coated urea for enhanced nitrogen use efficiency: First indigenously prepared neem coated urea and industrially adapted in India. It resulted in 10-16% average increase in rice yield. Technology developed is being used by NFL, KRIBHCO, Sri Ram Chemicals & Fertilizers, Indo-gulf Fertilizers.

Azadirachtin-A rich concentrate from neem seed: A simple, fast, cost effective and environment friendly process with no effluent / waste was developed for Aza-A rich concentrates. A package for the use of left over cake, seed husk etc. is also suggested to enable consumption of the raw material (s). The total package is in commercial use by Ozone Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Haryana is producing and exporting technical azadirachtin concentrate (Ozoneem Aza) to USA, Japan, Korea, Senegal, Nepal. The technology has also been licensed to M/s Srinidhi Enterprises, Bangalore and M/s Bharat Biocon Pvt Ltd, Bilaspur, Chattishgarh.

Polymeric seed coats based on neem bioactive: Technology for the development of polymeric seed coats containing Aza-A/neem for improving the shelf life/germination of seeds, enhancing the seed quality, plant viability and vigour was developed. The products stand out as distinct input for agriculture, particularly the safer agriculture exemplified by organic farming and integrated pest management. The technology has been transferred to NRDC for possible commercialization.

Nanosulphur: A technology for nano sulphur has been developed. Nano-sizing of sulphur particles resulted in enhancement of fungicidal potential of sulphur particles. Product is nearly two times more effective than the commercial formulation, thus facilitate its use even at lower amount with better efficacy. Nano sulphur disrupted the cleistothecial appendages in E. cichoracearum and made them sterile.

Nanohexaconazole: A technology for nanohexaconazole has been developed. The nanohexaconazole is 2-6 times more active than the commercial formulation against different Rhizoctonia solani isolates which cause sheath blight disease in rice. No adverse effect of nanohexaconazole was observed on the germination and establishment of mustard seeds.

Natural antioxidants, food colorant, flavouring agents and health food: Black carrot is a rich source of natural stable acylated anthocyanins which impart black carrots their dark violet color. Jamun is also an excellent source of anthocyanins. Tomato is a rich source of lycopene which finds wide application as natural antioxidant and food colorant in various other herbal preparations. Chilli oleoresin is is a rich source of high value capsanthin (natural colorant used in beverages, pickles, snack foods, salad dressing, seasoning and confectionery) and capsaicinoids (flavouring and anti-inflammatory agent). Stevia rebaudiana is a rich source of naturally occurring sweeteners-steviosides and rebaudiosides which are sugar-free, low calorie and natural sweetener. Bench scale know-how has been developed for the extraction of these compounds. The process is simple, cost effective and involves food grade solvents. The products/processes licenced to Ozon Biotech, Faridabad

Amphiphilic nanoformulation of pesticides: A technology has been developed for preparation of amphiphilic polymer which can be used for preparation of of nanoformulations. This poly(ethylene glycol) based amphiphilic polymers aggregate in aqueous medium to form nano-micelles. The micelle is utilized to encapsulate the bioactive material. The present innovation has been successfully utilized for preparation of nanoformulations of carbofuran, β-cyfluthrin, thiram, imidacloprid, azadirachtin and thiamethoxam. The use of nanoformulations reduces the dosage and frequency of applications. The Technology has been transferred to Insecticides India Limited, Delhi and Aegies Agrochemicals India, Hyderabad.

IPM schedules for cabbage, tomato and chilli have been developed for safe and pesticide residue free produce.

Evaluation of plant protection schedules and recommendation of safe waiting period: Safety evaluation of triazophos, cypermethrin and deltamethrin on cauliflower and brinjal; cypermethrin, profenophos and indoxacarb on bitter gourd; cypermethrin, chlorfenapyr and profenofos on cabbage; deltamethrin, chlorfenapyr and endosulfan on okra have been carried out and safe waiting period recommended.

Multi pesticide residue methods have been developed for monitoring of export commodities like tea and rice.

Pesticide remediation technique for water using modified clay, nanoclay, granular activated carbon and fly ash have been developed for eighteen pesticides with more than 90% removal of pesticides.

Techniques for Pesticide decontamination from soil for persistent pesticides like atrazine, chlorpyriphos, DDT, metolachlor, bifenthrin, alachlor, endosulfan, β-cyfluthrin, metribuzin and pendimethalin have been developed using microbial culture/consortia.